Container bracket arrangement for railway car

ABSTRACT

A railway flat car having trailer hitches for supporting trailers thereon includes a bracket arrangement for supporting containers when the car is utilized for container operation. The bracket arrangement comprises a plurality of brackets some of which are slidably connected to rub rails spaced inwardly and extending longitudinally with respect to the car. Flexible elements connect the container brackets to the rub rails and permit the storing of the brackets therebetween.

United States Patent Gramse 1 Oct. 30, 1973 [54] CONTAINER BRACKET ARRANGEMENT 3,557,710 1/1971 Miller 105/366 D FOR RAILWAY CAR 3,557,711 1/1971 105/366 D 3,575,118 4/1971 Gramse 105/366 D Inventor: Harold Gramse, chlcago Plelghts, 3,603,267 9 1971 Schwiebert 105/366 D 111. 3,621,794 11/1971 Gramse 105/366 D [73] Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, 111. I i

Primary Exammer-Drayton E. Hoffman [22] Filed: Ju e 12, 9 Attorney-Hilmond O. Vogel et al.

[21] Appl. No.: 262,170

[57] ABSTRACT 52 U5. c1. 105/366 D, 105/368 s A railway flat car having trailer hitches for Supporting 51 1111. C1 B65j 1/22, 1360p 7/08 trailers thereon includes a bracket arrangement for [58] Field 61 Search 105/366 D, 368 5, Supporting contains-rs when the Car is utilized for 105/368 T; 248/119 R, 119 S, 361 R; 296/35 tainer operation. The bracket arrangement comprises A a plurality of brackets some of which are slidably connected to rub rails spaced inwardly and extending len- [56] References Cited gitudinally with respect to the car. Flexible elements UNITED STATES PATENTS connect the container brackets to the rub rails and permit the storing of the brackets therebetween. 3,507,225 4/1970 Terlecky ct al 105/366 D 3,547,048 12/1970 Miller 105/366 D 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 26 2 2O 12 32 ll 33 1' I I, I 33 I mf||| w 1 1 32 33 27 /38 I 1 16 Y I .ll 1 3 23 22 1' 26 I I -72 a F 1 33 33 \l 24 38 23 2 V 13 111011115111 ,1 44

PAIENIED Bill 30 I915 3.768.421 SHEET 10F 2 CONTAINER BRACKET ARRANGEMENT FOR RAILWAY CAR A related application is Ser. No. 127,980 filed Mar. 25, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention pertains to railway flat cars which are provided with trailer hitches and container brackets so that the cars may be alternately used for container and trailer operations.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art includes corner brackets which are adjustable in longitudinal guideways or slots provided in the deck so that the corner brackets may be placed into a plurality of erect provisions for supporting containers at their corners and accommodating containers of various lengths. The decks of the cars are also generally provided with enlarged recesses into which the corner brackets are stored when the car is used for trailer operations. The slotting and recessing of decks makes it necessary to provide reinforcing structure underneath the deck which is costly and increases the weight of the cars. Other arrangements include container brackets which are slidingly connected to the vertically extending outer sills of a railway car and which in the non-use position are swung outwardly beneath the deck of the car to a stored position. This arrangement also has distinct disadvantages in that in many instances the railway car may be standing next to a loading dock and the proximity of the sides of the car to the dock is such that the brackets cannot be stored. Patents disclosing various arrangements in the prior art are as follows: U.S. Pat. Nos.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a prime object of the present invention to provide an improved railway flat car which can alternately be used for a container and trailer operation, the same car including an improved container bracket arrangement wherein the container brackets may be stored expeditiously so that they will not interfere with trailer operations. In the present invention the railway car deck is provided with a pair of transversely spaced rub rails which are disposed inwardly from the sides of the car along its longitudinal centerline, thereby leaving a pair of treadways disposed adjacent the sides of the car and over which the trailers are moved during loading and unloading. Trailer hitches are provided at conventional locations on the car, these being of conventional construction and being movable from a collapsed position to an erect position for engaging the kingpin and supporting trailers on the car. A container bracket arrangement includes a plurality of brackets which are positioned adjacent outer ends of the deck on the flat car and others are positioned inwardly thereof to support the container at its comers. The brackets are arranged so that they are readily movable to a plurality of positions for supporting different lengths of containers. The movement of such brackets is limited by means of flexible chains which are connected to hinged brackets, in turn secured to the inner rub rails. Outer brackets are similarly connected by flexible members to brackets which are slidingly supported on the rub rails. The arrangement is such that the brackets may be moved from their supporting position in the treadways into a stored position between the rub rails in a simple and expeditious operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 approximately one-half of a railway car 10 is disclosed, the other end of the car being identical. The railway car 10 comprises a flat deck 1 1 having side sills l2 and, as best shown in FIG. 2, a center sill 14. The car 10 also includes end sills 13 and a number of transversely extending cross-bearers or webbed supports 15, these being of conventional design. The present car 10 includes longitudinally extending L-shaped rub rails 16, each of which is spaced a short distance from the longitudinal centerline of the car and extends substantially the length thereof. Each L-shaped rub rail 16 includes a vertical web 17 having at its upper end a bulbous end portion and at its lower end a horizontally longitudinally extending flange 18, as best shown in FIG. 5. Each of the rub rails 16 is supported on a spacer 19 also extending longitudinally on the deck 11 of the flat car.

The deck 11 is provided with longitudinally extending treadways or runways 20 disposed outwardly of the rub rails 16, the same supporting the running gear or wheel suspension of trailers which are supported on the car in trailer-on-flat car operations. At each end of the car there is provided a trailer hitch generally designated at 21, the same being of conventional design, which may be moved from the collapsed position shown to an erect position for connecting to the kingpin of a trailer. Such a trailer hitch may be of the type shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,358,955 and 3,493,207. The trailer hitch 21 comprises a top plate 22 including suitable mechanism for releasably connecting the same to the kingpin of a trailer. The top plate 22 is connected to pedestals or legs 23, in turn pivotally supported on brackets 24 secured to the deck of the car. Diagonal legs 25 are also pivotally connected to the deck for supporting the top plate 22.

Container brackets 26 are provided for supporting containers on the flat car. Brackets 26 may be of relatively conventional design as disclosed in certain of the patents first mentioned above. Each of the container brackets includes a flat supporting surface or seat 27 engageable with the corner of a container for supporting the same. Also, each container bracket 26 includes a downwardly extending projection 28. As best shown in FIG. 2, longitudinal channel shaped stringers 29 are supported on the underneath surface of the deck 1 l on opposite sides of the car adjacent to the side sills 12. An

elongated aperture 30 is provided in the deck at each of the positions wherein the container brackets are to be mounted. A smaller channel 31 is supported within the channels 29 and extends approximately coextensive with a relatively short flat plate 32, also positioned at each of the positions wherein the brackets 26 are to be mounted. The flat plates 32 also include a plurality of apertures 33 which in effect provide positioning means for the container brackets 26 in that the downward projections 28, as best shown in FIG. 2, extend through the apertures 33 and into the channel 31. Thus, in each of the bracket mounting positions, as shown in FIG. 1, such an arrangement is present. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, container brackets 26 mounted at the opposite ends of the car are connected to slide members 34 which are slidingly supported on the L-shaped rub rails 16. The slide members 34 include an angle shaped portion 35 which is integral with a curved leg 36 adapted to conform to the configuration of the bulbous end of the vertical end portion 17. Thus, this shape of the slide member 34 conforms to the upper end of the vertical portion 17 and is secured thereon in sliding movement. The slide member 34 also is provided with outwardly extending ears 37 on which a lever 38 is hinged. The lever 38 comprises a horizontal plate portion 39 connected to a hinged flange 40 which is hingedly connected by means of a hinge pin 41 to the ears 37. The lever 38 also includes a diagonal portion 42 which in turn is connected to a horizontal flat portion 43 in the position of the lever 38, shown in FIG. 5, lying flat upon the deck 11. A chain 44, as best shown in FIG. 2, is connected to the end of the flat portion 43 of each lever and is in turn connected to an ear 45 provided on each of the container brackets 26. Thus, the forward or outer levers 38 are slidably positioned on the rub rails 16. The container brackets 26, as shown in FIG. 1, which are disposed horizontally rearwardly or inwardly of the forward container brackets 26, are also secured to similar chains 44 and to identical levers 38. The levers 38, however, of the rear container brackets 26, are not slidingly connected to the rub rails 16, but are as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, hingedly connected to the rub rails 16. Thus, the levers 38 are the same but the rearmost levers 38 are hingedly connected by a hinge pin 41 to ears 46 which are rigidly secured to the rub rail 16.

THE OPERATION When the railway car is utilized for trailer-on-flatcar operation, its wheels or running gear are supported on the treadways and the trailer hitch 21 is in an erect position wherein the top plate 22 securely engages the kingpin of the trailer. During this use the container brackets 26 at the opposite forward ends of the car are moved to the dotted line position wherein the two container brackets 26 are lying on the deck between the rub rails 16. Thus, the container brackets 26 are stored behind the trailer hitch and within the space provided by the rub rails 16 in an out of the way position. This is achieved by merely pivoting the forward levers 38 on the ears 37. The levers 38 connected to the rear container brackets 26 are also pivoted about the ears 46 and the said brackets also may be similarly stored between the rub rails 16 when the car is utilized for transporting trailers.

During use of the car for containers the trailer hitch is in the collapsed position shown in FIG. 1 and the brackets 26 are disposed so that they support the corners of a container in turn supported on the car. The brackets 26 may be moved longitudinally so that the downward projections 28 engage any of the apertures V 23 and thus these different positions accommodate different length of containers which may be carried on the car. The chains 44 of the rear container brackets 27 are sufficiently long so that the brackets may be positioned in any one of the apertures 33. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 1, the levers 38 of the forward brackets 26 also have chains which are sufficiently long so that the brackets may be positioned in either of the apertures 33 of the forward plates 32.

By the present arrangement containers of different lengths may be supported on corner brackets since a number of longitudinally spaced positions are provided. The deck need not be apertured for receiving the container brackets since the brackets may be readily stored between the rub rails 16 and may be easily and readily moved to this position by simply pivoting the levers 38 relative to the rub rails. As indicated, the forward brackets can be moved rearwardly out of the way of the trailer hitch 21 when it is in the collapsible position. Thus, all of the container brackets can be easily stored with a minimum of effort.

What is claimed is:

1. A railway car for transporting containers and trailers, said car including a flat deck, a pair of vertical rub rails extending longitudinally substantially the length of said car on said deck, said rub rails being spaced inwardly from the opposite sides of said deck to provide thereon a pair of outwardly disposed longitudinal runways, a trailer hitch supported on said deck between said rub rails adjacent an end of said car, said trailer hitch being movable from a collapsed position to an erect position for attachment to a trailer, the improvement of a container support arrangement comprising a first pair of container brackets, each having a flat supporting surface adapted to support a container at its corners at one end thereof,

first means connecting said first brackets, respectively, to said rub rails for relative sliding movement,

first bracket positioning means on said deck at one end thereof in said runways and being located opposite said trailer hitch, each said first brackets including means securing the same in said positioning means,

said first brackets being movable with said first con necting means from said first positioning means to a stored position between said rub rails and rearwardly of said trailer hitch,

a second pair of container brackets,

second bracket positioning means on said runways longitudinally spaced from said first positioning means,

said second brackets each including flat supporting surfaces adapted to support said container at its corners at the opposite end thereof and second means securing the same to said second bracket positioning means and,

means movably connecting said second pair of container brackets to said rub rails whereby said second brackets may be moved from said second positioning means to a stored position between said rub rails.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said first connecting means each including a slide member, and

an arm pivotally connected to said slide member and connected to each said first container bracket whereby said arms may be pivoted from a position on said runways to a position between said rub rails.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2, including a flexible member connected to each arm and each first container bracket.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, aid first means each including a slide member,

a pair of arms each having a first flat portion in one position adapted to horizontally overlie a rub rail, means pivotally connecting said first flat portions to said rub rails,

21 second flat portion on each said arms in said one position lying on said runways, means interconnecting said flat portions, and

a flexible member connecting said second flat portion and said first brackets.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said second positioning means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in said runways for receiving said second securing means, and

said means movably connecting said second pair of container brackets to said rub rails including flexible members whereby said second brackets may be secured in any of said apertures.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said means connecting said brackets to said rub rails including flexible elements,

said positioning means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in said runways, and said flexible elements being adapted to permit said brackets to be secured in any of said apertures. 

1. A railway car for transporting containers and trailers, said car including a flat deck, a pair of vertical rub rails extending longitudinally substantially the length of said car on said deck, said rub rails being spaced inwardly from the opposite sides of said deck to provide thereon a pair of outwardly disposed longitudinal runways, a trailer hitch supported on said deck between said rub rails adjacent an end of said car, said trailer hitch being movable from a collapsed position to an erect position for attachment to a trailer, the improvement of a container support arrangement comprising a first pair of container brackets, each having a flat supporting surface adapted to support a container at its corners at one end thereof, first means connecting said first brackets, respectively, to said rub rails for relative sliding movement, first bracket positioning means on said deck at one end thereof in said runways and being located opposite said trailer hitch, each said first brackets including means securing the same in said positioning means, said first brackets being movable with said first connecting means from said first positioning means to a stored position between said rub rails and rearwardly of said trailer hitch, a second pair of container brackets, second bracket positioning means on said runways longitudinally spaced from said first positioning means, said second brackets each including flat supporting surfaces adapted to support said container at its corners at the opposite end thereof and second means securing the same to said second bracket positioning means and, means movably connecting said second pair of container brackets to said rub rails whereby said second brackets may be moved from said second positioning means to a stored position between said rub rails.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said first connecting means each including a slide member, and an arm pivotally connected to said slide member and connected to each said first container bracket whereby said arms may be pivoted from a position on said runways to a position between said rub rails.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 2, including a flexible member connected to each arm and each first container bracket.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said first means each including a slide member, a pair of arms each having a first flat portion in one position adapted to horizontally overlie a rub rail, means pivotally connecting said first flat portions to said rub rails, a second flat portion on each said arms in said one position lying on said runways, means interconnecting said flat portions, and a flexible member connecting said second flat portion and said first brackets.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said second positioning means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in said runways for receiving said second securing means, and said means movably connecting said second pair of container brackets to said rub rails including flexible members whereby said second brackets may be secured in any of said apertures.
 6. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said means connecting said brackets to said rub rails including flexible elements, said positioning means including a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in said runways, and said flexible eleMents being adapted to permit said brackets to be secured in any of said apertures. 